A memorial service is a ceremony that memorializes and honors the deceased after the body has been cremated or buried. A memorial service has the same meaning of any other type of funeral service; honor and pay tribute to the deceased. The memorial service often takes place weeks or even months after the death has occurred.
The biggest difference of a traditional funeral and a memorial service is that the body is not present in a casket at a memorial service. However, an urn with the loved one’s ashes may be present at a memorial service. Both traditional funeral services and memorial services have structure, and both bring the community together in support and remembrance. However, a traditional funeral service is much more structured and formal. A traditional funeral service is often associated with religion so it is often led by a member of clergy, whereas a memorial service is led by a celebrant or master of ceremonies. Memorial services often allow for each guest to participate to some level, where guests of a traditional funeral are really just there to observe and reflect.
A celebration of life is an event that truly celebrates the loved one’s passions, intellectual pursuits, personality, and personal accomplishments. A celebration of life can really have no structure at all and can be really anything you want.
A memorial service could be best described as a gentle mix of a traditional funeral and celebration of life. A memorial service has some structure, but it still allows you the flexibility to make the ceremony unique and personalized to fit the individual being honored. Also the mood generally lies somewhere in the middle of completely somber and celebratory.
- We find the most common reason people choose a memorial service is that they want the extra time to plan a ceremony. Since a memorial service can take place after the body has been buried or cremation, there is no rush to organize a ceremony. Immediately following a death, families are not emotionally ready to have a ceremony – They need time to grieve. Relatives and friends that live far away can organize their schedule to travel for the memorial service.
- Often those not religious choose to have a memorial service as opposed to a traditional funeral because traditional funerals are more often associated with religion.
- Memorial service tend to be cheaper than holding a traditional funeral
- As mentioned above, for some people memorial services serve as the perfect compromise between a celebration of life and traditional funeral service.
- Some people find celebrations of life do not pay enough attention to the deceased and turn into solely a party
- We find the most common reason people choose a memorial service is that they want the extra time to plan a ceremony. Since a memorial service can take place after the body has been buried or cremation, there is no rush to organize a ceremony. Immediately following a death, families are not emotionally ready to have a ceremony – They need time to grieve. Relatives and friends that live far away can organize their schedule to travel for the memorial service.
- Often those not religious choose to have a memorial service as opposed to a traditional funeral because traditional funerals are more often associated with religion.
- Memorial service tend to be cheaper than holding a traditional funeral
- As mentioned above, for some people memorial services serve as the perfect compromise between a celebration of life and traditional funeral service.
- Some people find celebrations of life do not pay enough attention to the deceased and turn into solely a party
With the advancement in technonology, we see a lot of photo slideshows or some type of video tribute. However, we still do come across old-fashioned photo collages.
Increasingly, many memorial services conclude with some type of release – a butterfly release, dove release, or lantern release. It is quite beautiful to see these releases and they help represent a time of transition – “the family and close relatives are letting go of their loved one”.
Music seems to be a staple at any event and this is no different at a memorial service. Many families like to play the favorite songs of their loved ones. Or families play a genre of music that is more somber or upbeat depending on what type of atmosphere you are trying to create.
You can personalize a memorial service by serving some of your loved one’s favorite dishes and beverages.
Recently, we had a memorial service for a woman who had a passion for travel. We showcased her passport, luggage bag, some souvenirs, and a map marking all the places she had traveled.
In the past, we have also made displays for coin collectors, car lovers, and athletes.
With the advancement in technonology, we see a lot of photo slideshows or some type of video tribute. However, we still do come across old-fashioned photo collages.
Increasingly, many memorial services conclude with some type of release – a butterfly release, dove release, or lantern release. It is quite beautiful to see these releases and they help represent a time of transition – “the family and close relatives are letting go of their loved one”.
Music seems to be a staple at any event and this is no different at a memorial service. Many families like to play the favorite songs of their loved ones. Or families play a genre of music that is more somber or upbeat depending on what type of atmosphere you are trying to create.
You can personalize a memorial service by serving some of your loved one’s favorite dishes and beverages.
Recently, we had a memorial service for a woman who had a passion for travel. We created a showcase that included her passport, luggage bag, some souvenirs she picked up, and a map marking all the places she had traveled to.
In the past, we have also made displays for coin collectors, car lovers, and athletes.